So if Wal-Mart is such a bad place, why don't most of the employees better their situations in life?

Question

Seriously, I've worked for Wal-Mart. I fully admit Wal-mart is not the greatest company to work for. They treated me like a disposable number on the overnight shift. However, I knew that I could always quit, which i did, and start something new. I went to a new job, but there was always the chance of higher education or moving to a new place for better careers.

Now most people who work at Wal-Mart and such places like it have the ability to make those choices. I concede that 20 to 30 percent of them are not so fortunate do to tight finances, medical reasons, and other circumstances. But most are able to. As a matter of fact, doesn't Wal-Mart have a relatively high turn-over rate?

Instead of depending on the government to save you and bolster you up in life, why don't the fully able better their situations instead of squandoring their life away squawking about their bad practices?

Answer 1

The issue is being able to unionize, not relying on the government.  A great deal of people feel they have no choice but to work at Walmart, because of lack of education, experience, transportation, hours, loss of insurance...and most of all...the current job market.

Answer 2

they are trying to.

Answer 3

I work for Wal-Mart and am a dept. supervisor. I don't get paid what I am worth to them and that IS a big gripe we have with the company. We do a lot in a course of a day that is not in our specific job description-unloading trucks, getting carts, being a cashier, doing maintenance- we are very underpaid. Most of the people at Wal-Mart have 2 jobs to make ends meet.We pay for our benefits, not the company. I do know that Wal-Mart is environmentally concious.I know that for a fact. We are very careful to recycle and dispose of things correctly. I think there are too many stores in one area.Overkill.We are not allowed overtime nor do we get extra money to work a holiday.But right now for me, in this economy, I have a job-but I will be looking for a higher paying one soon.

Answer 4

You're right - I agree with you. The problem is that in a downturned economy it isn't that easy. There's isn't any real job growth - that's one of the markers of a recession, which we are in... A lot of the jobs out there are hourly wage jobs like walmart not career related jobs... But then that depends upon your field. There are SOME opportunities out there, but not many. Certainly not enough for all the people who have been displaced due to the economy and WANT to work. It's a vicious cycle... The economy is bad, so companies lay off (not hire), which makes the economy worse, which makes more companies lay off, etc... When consumers don't spend, or don't spend much are economy goes awry. What is it - 2/3 of our economy is driven by consumer spending, or something like that.. That's of course just my two cents worth which isn't even worth that in this economy :)

Answer 5

The situation you refer to is not relegated to Wal-Mart, but most jobs in the service sector.  Since the educational requirements are low, so is the pay.  That's how it has always worked.....this isn't new.  When you refer to "the Government" bolstering these people with handouts, I will not hesitate to remind everyone that the money for this comes from taxes on people who make more money, because they bettered themselves.  Sure there is a contingency of employees who are just stuck.  For the most part however, if you are there because of inaction on your part, then you got what you deserved, and have no right to complain.